It's important for me to think I'm mixed-race.

When first starting to work with someone you try to get them in the same mindset that you were in when you were successful, and I realized the best thing you can ever do is realize that they are not you. They have a different persona and mindset, and you have to figure out what works best within your communication with that athlete.

Try everything, because you're never sure what you're going to be great at.

It took me time to realize that the men who won Olympic gold medals in the decathlon are just men, just like me.

You need to become more than one type of athlete. You have to be a sprinter, a weight man and a distance guy all in one.

There is nothing better than having a personal-best day, being in shape and pushing myself beyond my own limits.

I was a good decathlete until I got with a coach that really knew how to train specifically for the event... I'd really describe it as like being a juggler; you have ten balls and you're trying to get them all in the air at the same time.